I agree. It's very odd. The name had to have been in their consciousness as being an iconic Superman character. And it's certainly not in the same vein as pun names like Hedy LaRue (or J. Pierrepoint Finch) in How To Succeed or Lily St. Regis in Annie.
Lane's name, of course, does figure in the lyric of the verse to the song "Bianca," but not in a way that depends on it. Porter saves the clever topical name references for L. B. Mayer, the Shuberts, and Clark Gable. And Lassie. (And he does make Bi-ayn-ca rhyme with Casablanca and Sanka.)
But then again, who thought that Michael Jackson would write music, lyrics and book for an original musical, AND win the Tony? :-) |
